Can-body forming and soldering machine.



4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED APR. "18, 1905.

H. DIEGKS. CAN BODY FORMING AND SOLDBRING MACHINE APPLIOATION FILED DE O.28, 1903.

. W iiIDQSSQS H. DIEGKSA.

PA'H-"NTED A'PR. 18, 1905.

CAN BODY FORMING AND SOLDERING MACHINE.

'APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 28. 1903 4 SHEETSSHBET 2.

Wiigzsszs PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

H. DIEGKS. 1 0M: BODY FORMING AND SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEU.28, 1903.

4; SHEETSSHEET 4.

IF llllllll I.

UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY DIECKS, OF EASTPORT, MAINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,439, dated April 18, 1905. Application filed December 28, 1903. Serial No. 186,858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY DIEoKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eastport, in the county of Washington and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Can -Body Forming and Soldering Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines of that class employed for forming and soldering canbodies.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of simple construction into which strips or blanks of tin or similar sheet material may be fed and automatically formed into can-bodies, soldered, and automatically delivered from the machine in readiness for any further operations necessary to the formation of the complete cans.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which will be self-feeding in its nature, so that a large number of blanks may be disposed at the entrance end of the machine and the machine will automatically feed these one by one to the shaping and soldering mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding means in the form of an electro magnet or magnets so arranged as to take single blanks from a pile and feed the same to the formers, and, further, to provide means whereby the attractive force of the magnet may be regulated so that single blanks only will be raised.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved forming means for bending a blank in such manner that the ends of the blank or strip from which the can-body is formed will overlap and remain in position for the soldering operation without the necessity of employing a large number of forming-dies.

A further object of the invention is to provide a forming-die having an automatic means for holding the meeting and overlapping edges of the blank clamped in position from the time of forming or shaping until after the completion of the soldering operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for applying acid or like material to the can in advance of the soldering operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel soldering means wherein a strip of solder is automatically fed step by step toward the iron, the rate of feed of the solder being regulated in accordance with the character of the cans.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the inven tion consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a can forming and soldering machine constructed in'accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1. Fig. L is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the can-bodyforming arms. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4, showing the arms in open position in readiness to receive a strip or blank. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the mandrels, showing a can-body in position thereon. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the soldering-iron and its associated mechanism.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The machine forming the subject of the present invention is designed for the manufacture of can-bodies and similar tin articles, the mechanism being of such nature as to permit its use in the manufacture of can-bodies of any shape and size by suitable alteration in the shape and size of the forming-dies.

In the drawings there is shown a suitable supporting-frame, including a table 1 and standards 2, the latter being provided with bearings for the reception of a horizontal shaft 3, that is driven from any suitable source of power. This shaft imparts movement to all of the operating mechanisms, and near one end is connected by gearing 5 of the Geneva stop type to a shaft 6, also mounted in suitable bearings under the table. The shaft 6 is connected by bevel-gears to a verticallydisposed shaft 7, carrying at its upper end a hub 8, from which projects radial arms 9. At the outer end of each of the arms 9 is a mandrel 10, around which the can-blanks are bent and on which they are retained during the application of the acid and during the soldering operation. These mandrels may be of any desired shape, and in the present instance are shown as substantially rectangular in form for the manufacture of similarly-shaped canbodies.

The arms receive step-by-step movement from the gearing connections with the main shaft 3, and in the present instance six of such arms are shown, although the number may be increased or diminished to any desired extent.

On the bed or table is mounted a block 12, through which extend vertical openings for the reception of a pair of rods or bars 13, that are connected together at their lower ends by a cross-head block 14, in which is mounted an antifriction-roller 15, bearing on a cam 16 on the main shaft 3, and at each rotation of the cam the rods 13 are elevated to effect the preliminary forming operation. At the upper ends of the rods 13 is a formingblock 17, that is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to a pair of forming-arms 18 and 19 of a shape dictated by the shape of the can to be made. In the. present instance the upper projecting end 20 of the arm 19 is of somewhat greater length than the similarlyprojecting end 21 of the arm 18, so that the strip or blank of metal may be bent around the mandrel and its edges overlapped in convenient position for soldering without the necessity of employing any auxiliary die members or formers for the purpose.

The table is further provided with grooved standards 22, forming guides for slidable blocks 23, that are connected by links 24 to the folding-arms 18 and 19. To each block is secured a rod 25, projecting down through an opening in the table, and the lower ends of the rods are connected together byablock 26, carrying an antifriction-roller 27, that is acted upon by a cam 28 on the main shaft 3. The cams 16 and 28 are so arranged on the shaft 3 that the cam 16 will operate in advance of the cam 28, and the blank or strip of metal will first be elevated by the block 17 against the bottom of the mandrel and clamped there, while the cam 28 serves to move the formers 18 and 19 and bend the ends of the strip or blank around the mandrel.

'When in inoperative position in readiness to receive a strip or blank, the forming-arms 18 and 19 are disposed in a plane below and at an angle to the upper surface of the clamping-block 17 so that the strip or blank may be conveniently placed in position, and after the completion of the forming operation the overlapped edges of the strip or blank are engaged by a clamp 29, that is carried by the mandrel. Each clamp 29 comprises a clamping-finger for engaging the overlapping edges of the strips and the rod 30, guided by lugs on one face of the arm 9. The lower end of this rod carries a similar antifriction-roller 31, that may be engaged by a vertically-movable bar 32, adapted to suitable guides at a point adjacent to the forming devices and under the control of a cam 32 on the main shaft. During the application of the strip or blank to the mandrel the cam 32 raises the bar 32, and the clamping-finger 29 is held up out of the way, so as not to interfere with the formation of the can-body. As soon as the canbody is formed the bar 32 descends, and a spring 33, that is connected to the clampingfinger 29, moves the latter down into engagement with the overlapping edges of the canbocly and holds the can-body in the position to which it is bent on the mandrel, and after this the forming-arms and clamping member 17 are free to descend in order that the arm 9 may be turned to the next position in readiness to receive the acid.

The rod 30, which carries the clamping-finger 29, is guided by lugs 30, secured to one of the vertical walls of each radial arm 9, and to this rod is secured a collar 31, that is 10 guided against the face of the arm. The spring 33 is a helical com pression-spring disposed between the upper lug30 and the collar 31 and normally tends to force the rod downward and keep the clamping-finger in engagement with I05 the overlapped edges of the can-body.

The collar 31 has a flat face which lies against the flat face of the arm 9, and thus prevents the rod 30 from rotating.

Near one end of the machine is a vertically- I I0 guided rod 36, that carries at its upper end an electromagnet 37 wound in any suitable manner and connected to a source of electrical energy, in the present instance represented by a conventional battery 38. In the circuit I 5 between the battery and magnet is placed a rheostat 39 of any ordinary construction, by means of which the attractive force of the magnet may be adjusted. At the bottom of the rod 36 is an antifriction-roller L0, that is 0 under the control of a cam 41 on the main shaft 3. The poles of the electromagnet extend out over a pile of strips or blanks 42, from which the can-bodies are to be formed.

The material is of the character usually em- 5 ployedtinned iron and when the electromagnet descends it will attract the uppermost strip or blank, and as the rod 36 is elevated this strip or blank will be raised to the proper position. It has been found difiicult to pre- 3 vent the raising of a single strip or blank, and with the permanent magnet it would be almost impossible to prevent the raising of two or more blanks by the magnet; but it is found that by adjusting the rheostat 39 the attractive force may be so regulated that single strips or blanks only will be attracted and raised.

From the table rise standards 43, forming guides for a pair of slidable bars 44, that are connected at their outer ends by a transverse bar 45. At the inner ends of the bars are fingers 46, so arranged with respect to the electromagnet that they will engage with the strip or blank held by the magnet and will move the same to a position over the forming device. Normally the fingers and bars are held attracted by a coiled tension-spring 47 and the bars are moved forward by engagement with a crank-pm or antifriction-roller earned by a crank 48 on a vertically-disposed shaft 49, that extends upward through the table and is connected by gearing 50 to the main shaft 3. The parts are so timed that when the electromagnet is elevated and supporting a strip or blank the pin or antifriction-roller' carried by the crank 48 will engage the bar and move the fingers 46 in such manner as to carry the strip or blank away from the poles'of the magnet and to a position immediately over the forming devices. The fingers 46 are so shaped as to support the strip during this movement, and the strip or blank will slide over one or more ribs 51, disposed adjacent to the forming arms, said ribs being inclined, so that the strip or blank may move freely to position, and the strip being supported at its ends only will sag at the center and immediately drop behind the ribs and on top of the former, after which the fingers are withdrawn and the strip is held by the ribs in position to be operated upon. The forming device will then be operated in the manner previously described, and the can will be clamped at the top of the mandrel in such manner as to leave the overlapping ends of the strips in position to receive the acid-flux and the solder. The vertical shaft 7 is then revolved in order to advance the can to the soldering position, and during its transit the acid will be supplied to the overlapping edges of the can-body in order to provide the usual flux and permit the free flow of the solder.

The acid-applying device is in the form of a brush 53, carried by an arm 54, pivoted at one end to a standard 56, carried by the bed or table of the machine. At a point below the brush and out of the path of travel of the canbody-carrying mandrels is a reservoir 57 in which is placed muriatic acid or some similar flux. From the tank leads an open trough 58, into which the brush is dipped between intervals of movement of the 'mandrels. The arm 54 is connected by a rod 58 to a lever 59, fulcrumed to a hanger at a point under the bedplate, and the lever 59 carries an antifrictionroller 60, bearing on a cam 61 on the main shaft, the cam being so shaped as to properly time the movements of the brush.

The soldering-iron 62 is carried by an arm 63, that is pivoted at the upper end of the standard 64, the downward movement of the arm being limited by the engagement of a tongue 66 on the arm 63 with a lug 67 at one side of the standard. The iron is preferably in the form of a hollow body open at the top, and against it plays a jet issuing from a pipe 68. The heating-jet may be formed by a mixture of air and gas or air and liquid hydrocarbon. The lower portion of the solderingiron, which comes into engagement with the cam, has a rounded front portion, as indicated at 69, so as to permit the free passage of the overlapping edges of the can thereunder, and this will prevent displacement of the canbody or the bending of the metal should the overlapping edges of the can project upward. At one side of the standard 64 is a perforated plate 70, carrying a tube 71, through which passes a strip of solder. The solder passes over a toothed roller 72 and is pressed into engagement therewith by a small roller 73, mounted on a link 74, that is pivoted to the standard, said link being engaged by a spring 75 in order that the solder may be firmly gripped between the two wheels. On the arbor of the wheel 72 is mounted a bell-crank lever 76, to one arm of which is hung a spring-pressed pawl 77, engaging the teeth of the wheel 72. The opposite arm of the bellcrank lever is connected by a rod 78 to an intermediate portion of a lever 79, that is fulcrumed to a hanger at a point on the bedplate. The free end of the lever 79 is provided with an antifriction-roller 80,that bears against the periphery of a cam 81, mounted on the main shaft and so shaped as to impart a comparatively slow feeding movement to the strip of solder. The solder is fed step by step against the heating-iron, and at each movement of the mechanism a sufi'icient quantity becomes melted and runs on the acidcoated face of the can and unites the overlapping edges thereof. The soldering-iron will press down on the overlapping edges of the can with sufficient force to unite them,and the mandrel will remain stationary under the soldering-iron for a sufficient length of time to permit the free flow of the solder throughout the length of the joint. The vertical shaft 7 is then moved in order to advance the nowsoldered can another step, and after leaving the iron the can is held on the mandrel for a sufficient length of time to permit the solder to solidify. This of course may be hastened by the application of water; but in the case of large cans it is preferred to employ a greater number of mandrel-carrying arms, so that the solder may set while the can is being moved from the iron to the point of delivery.

The bed or table is provided with an upstanding cam 82, that is adapted to engage the antifriction-roller of the clamping-finger 28 and force the same up out of engagement with the cam. At the same time a pair of fingers 83, also carried by the table, will engage with the opposite sides of the can and strip the same from the mandrel as the latter rotates in the direction of the forming-arms.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is 1. A blank-feeding mechanism including an electromagnet having spaced poles, means for raising and lowering the electromagnet, and a pair of stripper-fingers adapted to engage the blank and slide the same laterally from contact with the poles of the magnet, said fingers forming supports for holding the blank after it has been removed from the poles of the magnet.

2. In a can-forming machine, an electromagnet having widely-separated poles to permit the sagging of the central portion of the blank, a stripper, and a means for engaging the sagging portion of the blank to prevent backward movement thereof.

3. In a can-forming machine, an electromagnetic feeder having widely-separated poles, a pair of stripper-fingers for engaging the end portions of the blank, forming devices to which the blanks are successively fed, and ribs or fingers for engaging the sagging portion of the blank and retaining the same in position on the formers.

L. In acan-i'orming machine, an electromagnet for engaging and raising the blanks, a pair of fingers for engaging the blanks near the opposite ends thereof, said lingers being provided with surfaces for the reception and support of the blanks and having shoulders for engaging the edge portions of the blanks and sliding the same from the poles of the magnet.

5. In a can-formingmachine, an electromagnet for raising can-blanks, a pair of strippinglingers having shoulders for engaging the edge portions of the blanks and stripping the same fronrthe poles of the magnet, a crossbar to which both lingers are connected, and a revoluble crank having a pin or antit'rictionroller for engaging said cross-bar.

6. In a can-forming machine, a magnet for raising successive blanks, a rod supporting the magnet, a cam engaging and reciprocating said rod, a pair of shouldered lingers serving as strippers for removing the blank from the poles of the magnet and as carriers and supports for the blank after its removal from the magnet, a movable support for the lingers, and means for reciprocating said support and fingers.

7. In a can-forming machine, a mandrel, forming or bending arms for bending a blank around the mandrel, and a clam ping means for engaging the overlapped edges of the blank on the mandrel.

8. In a can-forming machine, a mandrel forming arms for bending a blank around the mandrel and for overlapping the edges of the said blank, a clamping-finger for engaging said overlapping edges and holding the blank on the mandrel. and means for moving said clamping-finger to release position.

9. In a can-forming machine, a mandrel, a plurality of folding-arms of unequal length for bending the blank around the mandrel, a spring-pressed clamping-finger for engaging the overlapping edges of the blank and holding the same on the mandrel, and means for moving the finger to release position.

10. In a can-forming machine, a mandrel, means for moving the same, a blank-clamping bar movable in the direction of the mandrel to clamp the central portion of the blank thereagainst, a pair of forming-arms carried by the bar and serving to bend a blank around the mandrel, and means for clamping the blank in its bent position. a

11. In a can-forming machine, a traveling mandrel, a clam ping-bar movable in the direction of the mandrel to clamp a can-blank thereagainst, a pair of clamping-arms for bending the blank around the mandrel, said arms be ing of unequal length and serving to arrange the overlapping edges of the blank at one side of the vertical center of the mandrel.

12. In a can-forming machine, a traveling mandrel, a vertically-movable clamping-bar for engaging the central portion of a blank, a pair of forming-arms serving to bend a blank around the mandrel, a cross-head, a link connecting the cross-head to the arms for mutual movement, independent cams for actuating the clamping-bar and the crosshead, and means for clamping the bent blank in position on the mandrel.

13. In a can-forming machine, a traveling mandrel, a clamping-linger, a spring-pressed rod guided on the mandrel and serving a support for the clamping-linger, an antifriction-roller disposed at the lower end of the rod forming means for bending a blank around the mandrel, and means for engaging the antifriction-roller and moving the clampingfinger to released position.

M. The combination with a can-body-carrying mandrel, of a revoluble support for the mandrel, a spring-pressed rod carried by the mandrel, a clamp secured to the rod and serving to hold the overlapping parts of the canbody in position, a stationary cam disposed in the path of movement of the rod and serving to move said clamp to release position, and strippers for engaging the can-body, to remove the same from the mandrel.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' HENRY DIECKS.

\Vitn esses:

F. IN. WILLIAMS, Geo. GHAPPELL.

IIS 

